“I got an ESPN alert and then everybody starting texting,” Jay Franklin said. “Ian is in Hawaii. He texted me and said, ‘I think I’ve just been traded. Can you check?’ We didn’t see it coming.

“He’s excited. He’s excited for the simple fact that he’s getting an opportunity to go to an organization that is competing every year, that is in the playoffs and has a chance to the World Series. He cares about winning more than anything else.”

He said Kinsler had listed the Tigers among 10 teams he told the Rangers he’d accept being traded to.

“We had talked about Detroit and how that was a place that Kinsler liked and an organization he could play for,” Franklin said.

“Ian is excited about Detroit. He wants to win, and he works hard. I think Detroit fans, much like the Texas fans, will appreciate that he gives you everything he’s got every day. He leaves it all out on the field.”

Kinsler, 31, spent his entire professional career with the Rangers after being drafted in the 17th round in 2003, making his major-league debut in 2006. He was instrumental in the team’s World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.

His career numbers include a .273 average, 156 home runs, 539 RBIs and 172 stolen bases.

With Elvis Andrus at shortstop and rising youngster Jurickson Profar likely moving to second base, that made Kinsler expendable for Texas.

“Ian and his wife made their home in Texas,” Franklin said. “After they got rid of Josh (Hamilton), Ian arguably was the last player people could relate to.”